Between mofongo and beans, Arcángel chats with Jessica Roiz of Billboard about his sobriety, his first album after open-heart surgery, his relationship with God and why Ricky Martin is the greatest icon in the history of Hispanic-American music.

Arcángel
After my open-heart surgery, it was in March, if I’m not mistaken, I quit everything. I basically stopped drinking. I’m in my… in, in, in this splendor now where I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I have a very clear mind. I don’t need anything to create, because the reality is that I humbly have a gift that God gave me, a very big one.

Jessica Roiz
Arca, tell us, we’re at a Puerto Rican restaurant. What’s your go to? What do you like about Puerto Rican food?

Arcángel
Well, what I like most, which is what I grew up eating, is white rice with beans and steak with onions. In fact, I’m seeing it here right now.

Jessica Roiz
(laughs) Well, Arca, tell us. Uh, we’re here, close to your hometown. What’s a day off like for Arcángel?

Arcángel
Nothing special. Many times I don’t even leave my room. I work so much that when I’m home, well, I try to, to, to give as much as I can to my house. I don’t go out. I think if I go out it’s to, to, to the gas station. I always buy a soda because I like the ice from the machine. Shaved ice. I don’t have it at home, so… I go to the store, come back, uh, I drink the soda and I – if I’m not sleepy, well, I start walking around the house, brainstorming. You always have to be thinking. Even if you have free time, there’s never free time to think about the next move. So, I’m always at my house.

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